Portable dummy



June 4, 1940.

'M. .11. GILMAN PORTABLE DUMMY Filed March 18, 1939 nu rlhlnhhlllwh :.n 4

Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED sTATr-.s

PATENT OFFICE 2,203,259 PORTABLE DUMMY Martin John Gilman, Gilman, Conn. Application March 18, 1939, Serial No. 262,661

4 Claims.

The prensent invention pertains to athletic training devices and more particularly to devices in the general category of dummies for training football players.

Heretofore, it has been the custom for football coaches to employ dummies in lieu of men in practicing and teaching the art of offensive and defensive football. The dummies which have been in general use are of that general type set forth in the patent to Gilman, No. 2,037,508, dated April 14, 1936, which is of the self-erecting variety. Other dummies in this general category are somewhat shaped like the dummy set forth in the aforementioned patent but are of the type which, when once knocked over, must be manually set in an erect position, before they can again be used. Both of the types mentioned above are usually quite heavy so that they will offer resistance Ito the impact of a charging human being. The dummies now generally in use have various weights ranging up to approximately 375 pounds, such dummies being usually placed in a predetermined position which position is the anticipated location of a defensive football player who had properly diagnosedy the play and Ahad reached this predetermined position in time to create an obstacle for the moving offensive player.

The use of this type of dummy is becoming rapidly outmoded for certain phases of football training, due to the fact that players are taught to move more rapidly, with greater precision and to more properly anticipate the movement of the offensive team once the ball is put into play.

The type of dummy now in general use permits the offensive team to observe the locations of the predeterminedly placed dummies and to attack the same without allowing the defensive players to utilize any skill whatever or to secure that training which is so vital and the principal reason for dummy practice work in tea-m formations. However, the type of dummy disclosed in the present application permits the defensive players, primarily those in the backileld, to remain in position each with a dummy heldin front of him.

The presently presented invention discloses a type of dummy which is so light in weight that the defensive players can move rapidly to positions infanticipation of the movements of the offensive players. This invention also permits the defensive players to properly block the offensive players by utilizing the dummy and at the same time observe the tactics of their opponents from positions of comparative safety.

lol. 27a- 55) v It is an object of the .present invention to provide an inflatable football dummy of conventional size but which is sumciently light in weight to permit said dummy to be readily moved from one position to another by a player while engaged in scrimmage practice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lightweight dummy With a handle on either side thereof in a position for rapid and most efficient manipulation by a -player utilizing the same.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- 10 vide, in a device of this character, a plurality of protective coverings having the warp of the respective layers of materials at substantially right angles one to the next to prevent undue stretching of the inflatable inner bag. 15

Another and important object of the present invention is the provision of a football dummy which is entirely inflated when in use and which depends solely upon said inflation for its resiliency. 20

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction and of comparatively inexpensive manufacture.

Other and further objects of the invention will 2r become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away to show details of construction, of a device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is Fig. 1, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views illustrating details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawing there is shown therein a football dummy having a substantially frustro-conically shaped body, generally indicated at I0, having a cover portion II formed of two layers of material I2 and I3.

It will be seen that the cover portion I0 is provided with a rounded bottom I4 and a top I5 of like construction which are fastened to the side portions by means of stitching I6 in such a manner that the seams are upon the inner side of the structure. The top portion I5 is provided with a diametrically extending opening I1 which 5o is provided with a closure fastener IB of standard construction.

Through the opening I1 a bag I9, preferably formed of rubber or the like, is adapted to be inserted. A bag is provided with a valve 20 of 55 a like view taken along line `3--3 of 35 standard construction. 0f course, the opening may be formed in the bottom of the dummy as indicated at Il in Figure 5. An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a pair of hand grips 2| which are fastened by stitching 22 to the outer covering of the dummy upon the opposite -sides and adjacent to the top thereof. It will be seen that for more rugged construction the handles are preferably and as shown in Figure 1, illustrated as being stitched to the covering at the seam portions thereof.

From the foregoing it will be clear that there are many advantages to the present invention.

which are not definitely pointed out in the objects but will be more definitely set forth in the claims.

While specific details of the invention have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be and may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A lightweight portable blocking dummy for use in teaching the art of football, adapted to be rapidly shifted by one person from a given location to another location, comprising an elon-n gated protective covering substantially frustroconically shaped, an end member fastened to each end of the protective covering, an inflatable memher for insertion within the protective covering, an-opening in said protective covering to permit the inatable member to be inserted therein, and fastening means to securely close the opening in the covering.

2. A practice blocking dummy adapted to be rapidly moved by one person from a certain lo- 'aaoaasc cation to another location, an outer protective covering being substantially frustro-conical in shape, an end member on opposing ends of the protective covering and secured thereto, an opening in one of said end members, means to securely close said opening, and an inflatable member insertable within the substantially iillingthe properly inflated, and a handle on either side thereof secured adjacent the upper peripheral edge of the frustro-conically shaped protective covering.

3. A portable blocking dummy for teaching the art of football, and adapted to be rapidly moved by a player from a given location to another l0- cation, a dummy comprising an elongated ininside thereof when atable member, a protective covering completely enclosing said inflatable member, an opening in said protective'covering to permit the insertion of the inflatable member within said covering, closure means to securely close" said opening in said covering, and means securely attached to the covering near one end thereof adapted to be grasped by the player, while the opposite end of the protective covering rests upon the ground.

4. A portable dummy adapted to be rapidly shifted from one position to another position by an individual player in teaching the art of football blocking, said dummy comprlsing an elongated outer covering being substantially circular in shape through a horizontal cross-section thereof, resilient means within said casing for properly retaining the shape thereof, and a pair of handles for shifting said dummy, one handle being disposed substantially opposite the other handle, each handle being secured to the casing of the dummy in two places, both of said handles being located on the upper portion of the dummy.

MARTIN JOHN G protective ,covering and 

